New Mural will Soon ‘Elevate’ Liberty Plaza in Downtown Ann Arbor
At the start of 2025, City of Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation and the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority partnered for the very first Elevate Program public art and placemaking installation at Liberty Plaza in downtown Ann Arbor. The large, freestanding interactive crystals of the Oscillation exhibit brought Liberty Plaza to life, bringing intrigue and interacting with visitors by glowing and playing different sounds and pitches. While Oscillation was meant to be temporary, ending in March, Liberty Plaza is now about to be "elevated" by art once again — and this time, it will be permanent!
A mural consisting of horizontally flowing, two-dimensional geometric shapes and park-related graphics will soon fill the unique wall spaces of Liberty Plaza, creating a clean, modern look. C. Stanley Creative has been selected to design and paint the mural, which will ultimately bring what the city parks and recreation and DDA describe as a unifying theme to the various levels and pockets of the plaza. Stanley also incorporated inspiration from the Huron River’s paddle culture and the wildflowers planted throughout the plaza gardens, bringing together local ecology and recreation in what’s described as, “a calm, structured composition that invites passersby to pause, reflect and reconnect with the natural world.” In 2024, Stanley received a Gold National Mural Award for his mural, Prairie Thunder, and was recognized by Street Art Cities as one of the top muralists in the world. A professional muralist based in Orlando, Florida, his large-scale murals appear across the United States and abroad, often focusing on native species and environmental themes.
The mural installation work is scheduled to begin Aug. 11, weather permitting, and is expected to be completed in early September. Once installation is underway, the park may be partially or completely closed at times and all are asked to please follow instructions on posted signage.
“We’re always seeking new and innovative ways to activate and make our parks appealing destinations to match the diverse interests we have here in Ann Arbor,” said Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Services Manager Josh Landefeld. “We approach activities and ‘exercise’ in city parks holistically, remembering that these important spaces inspire creativity and provide respite to relax and take in your surroundings — whether that be nature, art, urban or suburban — and Elevate at Liberty Plaza brings that together in one place to enjoy.”
“Liberty Plaza is the perfect canvas for public art in downtown Ann Arbor,” said Maura Thomson, executive director of the Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority. “With the array of multileveled walls that define the space, visitors will be enveloped in the artwork around them. We hope this new public art installation will spark joy, inspiration and conversation amongst those who visit Liberty Plaza. We are thrilled to work with the city parks department and the Ann Arbor Art Center to bring more art to downtown.”
City parks and recreation and the DDA worked with the Ann Arbor Art Center (A2AC) as a key partner and creative collaborator to assist with artist selection and bringing this project to fruition. The A2AC works with public and private partners and artists to contribute to the vibrancy of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County through a broad range of art installations on buildings, planters and in parks. The A2AC has completed 39 public art projects and continues to build the portfolio.
Follow Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation, DDA and the A2AC on social media for updates and images as the mural takes shape in Liberty Plaza.
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Media Contacts:
Josh Landefeld, City of Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation Services Manager, jlandefeld@a2gov.org
Maura Thomson, Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority Executive Director, mthomson@a2dda.org